Exploring Digital Tools for the Classroom  

In today's classrooms, technology is more than just a supplement—it's a way to create significant, student-centered learning adventures. Researching new digital tools allows educators to design lessons that reach diverse learners, grow engagement, and make learning more interactive and personalized. Throughout this journey, I focused on tools that align with my blended learning model, where students take an active role in their learning through stations, independent practice, and digital reflection. Each tool I selected—Genially, Edpuzzle, ThingLink, Padlet, and Curipod—serves a unique purpose in helping students connect with content in creative and authentic ways. By testing these tools firsthand, I learned how technology integration can deepen understanding, foster collaboration, and give students greater ownership of their progress. When used with purpose, it can truly transform the classroom into a space where every student can explore, create, and thrive.

Genially is an interactive presentation and design platform that allows educators to create dynamic, engaging learning experiences such as escape rooms, infographics, timelines, and interactive maps. To explore its advanced capabilities, I made a "Road to Revolution" interactive map for my 7th-grade Texas History class. After logging in and selecting an "Interactive Image" template, I uploaded a historical map of Texas from the 1830s. I added clickable hotspots for events such as the Fredonian Rebellion, Mier y Terán Report, and the Law of April 6, 1830. Each hotspot revealed a short text description, primary source image, and embedded quiz question. When I used Genially, I uploaded visuals, added animations, and linked external resources to create a cohesive interactive lesson. What really stood out to me was how versatile the platform is—it combines design, games, and built-in assessments all in one place. It's ideal for blended learning because students can work through the content independently. However, Geinally can be time-consuming due to the gamification levels you build into the activity. Even though it can be challenging for the students, it gives me a creative way to turn regular lessons into interactive experiences. I've used some in the past for a review, built by our DLS team. Now I plan to use my own in my blended model by assigning interactive maps and quizzes for students to complete at their stations. Creating my own escape room helped me build it from the ground up and truly hone in on how kids need to learn, and when they get into the game, they really enjoy completing each level.
Creating with it showed me how design and interactivity can really help students take ownership of their learning and understand topics more deeply 

GENIALLY

Advantages & Disadvantages

Advantages:

  • Makes lessons interactive and visually engaging with animations, games, and clickable elements.

  • Supports different learning styles through images, text, videos, and quizzes all in one presentation.

  • Works well for blended or station-based learning, allowing students to explore content independently.

  • Offers ready-made templates that save time when creating lessons or review games.

  • Encourages student creativity and ownership, as they can also use it to build projects or presentations.

  • Allows for assessment integration, such as embedded quizzes or checkpoints to check for understanding.

 

Disadvantages:

 

  • The platform can be time-consuming to learn, especially when designing from scratch.

  • Requires a strong internet connection for full functionality and animations to load properly.

  • Some advanced features (like analytics and collaborative editing) are only available with paid plans.

  • File size limits and media restrictions can occasionally slow down or limit large projects.

  • May require teacher modeling or guidance for younger students to navigate interactive features effectively.

 

Edpuzzle is a digital learning platform that transforms passive video watching into active, interactive learning by allowing educators to embed questions, voice notes, and comments directly into any video. To explore its capabilities, I created a short lesson on the Law of April 6, 1830, using a YouTube video from the Texas State Historical Association. After signing in with my educator account, I uploaded the video, trimmed unnecessary segments, and added comprehension questions at key moments—such as the reasons behind the law and its effects on Texas settlers. I also inserted multiple-choice and open-ended questions, enabling immediate feedback and discussion. The platform's real-time analytics will allow me to monitor which students watched the entire video and how they will perform on each question. The significant advantage of Edpuzzle is its ability to support asynchronous, self-paced learning within a blended or flipped classroom, giving students autonomy while providing teachers with valuable formative data.

Its ability to connect with Canvas and Google Classroom makes it easier to assign and grade them. The Edpuzzles free version has restrictions on storage capacity, and videos must be under a specific time limit, which can be restrictive for extended lessons. Edpuzzle increases engagement and comprehension through self-paced learning and the ability for students to replay information as needed. I plan to use Edpuzzle in my blended learning stations, ensuring that students come to class ready for discussions with a foundational understanding of key concepts. Edpuzzle aligns with the focus of my innovation plan on customized learning, showcasing how engaging video materials can improve comprehension and promote student ownership. (Edpuzzle, n.d.).

EDPUZZLE

Advantages & Disadvantages

Advantages:

  • Turns passive video watching into active learning with embedded questions, notes, and feedback.

  • Provides real-time analytics, allowing teachers to see who watched the video and how they performed on each question.

  • Supports self-paced learning, which fits perfectly with blended and flipped classroom models.

  • Integrates easily with Google Classroom and other LMS platforms, making grading and assignments seamless.

  • Offers a large library of ready-to-use educational videos that can be customized for different subjects and grade levels.

  • Encourages accountability and engagement, as students must interact with the video to continue watching.

 

Disadvantages:

  • The free version limits storage space, so teachers may need to delete older videos or upgrade for more room.

  • Requires a stable internet connection, which can be a challenge for some students at home.

  • Creating or editing videos can be time-consuming until teachers become familiar with the platform.

  • Students who prefer text-based learning might find the video-heavy approach less appealing.

  • Some district filters or YouTube restrictions can interfere with video access if not managed properly.

 

ThingLink is an interactive media tool that enables users to turn static images and videos into immersive, clickable experiences by embedding multimedia content. I tested ThingLink by designing a scenario highlighting the events leading to the Texas Revolution. I uploaded a historical map of Texas and created clickable hotspots for key moments such as the Fredonian Rebellion, the Mier y Terán Report, and the Law of April 6, 1830. Each tag included a short summary, an image, and a link to a related video or primary source. I really liked how the tool made the content come alive and allowed for exploration of history visually instead of reading long text passages. The interactivity can help students build connections between people, places, and events while moving at their own pace, which fits well with my blended learning approach. However, one drawback I found is that ThingLink is not completely free for educators, and some of the advanced features, like collaboration and analytics, require a paid plan. Despite that limitation, I think ThingLink could be an excellent tool for increasing student engagement and comprehension, especially for visual learners. It provides a dynamic, inquiry-based way for students to interact with historical content rather than passively consume it. Overall, it is a tool I would consider using again because it aligns with my goal of fostering active learning and digital exploration plan’s focus on personalized engagement

THINGLINK

Advantages & Disadvantages

Advantages:

  • Makes learning visual and interactive, helping students better understand complex events.

  • Encourages student engagement through exploration instead of passive reading.

  • Supports differentiation — students can access text, audio, and images at their own pace.

  • Easy to use for creating digital maps, timelines, or virtual tours.

  • Integrates well with blended and flipped learning models, allowing independent learning.

  • Enhances comprehension for visual and English language learners by combining multiple modes of learning.

Disadvantages:

  • Not fully free — advanced features like collaboration, analytics, and VR modes require a paid plan.

  • Limited storage and sharing options in the free version.

  • Requires stable internet access for smooth use, especially with multimedia.

  • Can be time-consuming to create detailed, interactive projects.

  • Some students may need guidance on navigation, especially younger learners or those unfamiliar with digital mapping tools.

Padlet is a dynamic online bulletin board that allows both students and teachers to share, organize, and discuss content collaboratively in real-time. To explore its functionalities, I created a Padlet wall named "Causes of the Texas Revolution," and it will be a part of the portfolio. I chose the "timeline" format so that students could post about major events—such as the Mier y Terán Report, the Law of April 6, 1830, and the Turtle Bayou Resolutions—in chronological order. Each post will have to include a title, a summary, and an image or GIF that illustrates the event. I will then model one example post and allow students to add their own entries during the "We do" and "You do together" stages of the gradual release. The main advantage of Padlet is its flexibility—it allows for the inclusion of text, images, audio, and video, creating a multimodal learning experience that encourages collaboration and expression of voice. It's easy to use across different devices, supporting blended learning. One downside is that the free version restricts the number of active boards and the storage capacity. However, Padlet is an excellent resource for online discussions and reflections. I plan to use it consistently as a formative assessment resource, allowing students to demonstrate their understanding through collaborative discussions. This resource highlighted how online collaboration can improve participation and reflection in a student-focused classroom. (Padlet, n.d.).

PADLET

Advantages & Disadvantages

Advantages:

  • Encourages collaboration and communication by letting students share ideas, images, videos, and links in real time.

  • Provides a visual and organized space for brainstorming, reflections, or class discussions.

  • Supports multiple formats—wall, grid, timeline, and map—making it adaptable for various lesson types.

  • Easy to use across devices, which helps students contribute both in class and at home.

  • Allows for multimodal learning, combining text, audio, video, and images in one place.

  • Excellent for formative assessments, exit tickets, and digital portfolios.

 

Disadvantages:

  • The free plan limits the number of active Padlets, which can restrict frequent use without a paid upgrade.

  • Students may accidentally delete or edit posts if permissions aren’t carefully set.

  • Internet access is required, which may limit offline participation.

  • Managing many posts on one board can become visually cluttered if not organized clearly.

  • May require monitoring for appropriate content, especially in open discussion formats.

 

Curipod is an AI-powered lesson creation platform that generates interactive slides, polls, and open-ended questions aligned to any learning topic. I began my exploration by logging into Curipod and entering "Causes of the Texas Revolution" as a prompt. Within seconds, the platform generated a complete interactive lesson, including multiple-choice questions, word clouds, and exit ticket reflections. I edited the slides to include Texas-specific visuals and customized questions for deeper historical analysis. It will also provide feedback on short-constructed responses to students on a prompt. The significant advantage of Curipod is how quickly it allows educators to create high-quality, interactive content—saving valuable planning time. Its integration of AI-generated prompts encourages critical thinking and immediate engagement. However, the platform currently relies heavily on internet connectivity and may produce generic slides if prompts are vague. Despite this, Curipod supports personalized, student-centered instruction by making formative assessment instant and visible. I plan to integrate it into my blended learning model as a station check-in tool or for live class reviews. Exploring Curipod helped me see the potential of AI not as a replacement for teaching, but as an accelerator of creativity and feedback in the learning process (Curipod, n.d.).

CURIPOD

Advantages & Disadvantages

Advantages:

  • Encourages student engagement through interactive activities like polls, word clouds, and drawings.

  • Provides real-time feedback so teachers can quickly assess understanding and adjust instruction.

  • Includes AI-generated lesson ideas that save prep time and help align lessons to topics or standards.

  • Supports student voice and inclusivity — all students can participate anonymously, which boosts confidence and equity.

  • Easy to use with a simple interface and quick setup for teachers and students.

  • Works well in blended, remote, or in-person learning environments.

 

Disadvantages:

  • Best suited for formative checks, not for delivering deep content or long-term projects.

  • Requires reliable internet access; weak Wi-Fi can disrupt participation.

  • AI-generated prompts sometimes lack depth or alignment and need teacher editing.

  • Potential for off-task behavior, as students may focus on humor instead of meaningful responses.

  • The free version has limited templates and data analytics; premium features require a paid plan.

  • Schools should review data privacy and compliance (COPPA, FERPA) before full implementation.

 

References

Edpuzzle. (n.d.). Edpuzzle: Make any video your lesson. https://edpuzzle.com/

Curipod. (n.d.). Curipod: Create interactive lessons in seconds. https://curipod.com/

Genially. (n.d.). Genially: Interactive learning experiences. https://genial.ly/

Padlet. (n.d.). Padlet: Create beautiful boards and collaborate easily. https://padlet.com/

ThingLink. (n.d.). ThingLink: Interactive images and videos for education. https://www.thinglink.com/